Can’t Sleep After Head Injury? How to Overcome Post-Traumatic Insomnia

Wondering what to do when you can’t sleep after head injury? Quality sleep offers many important benefits to patients with a brain injury. For example, REM sleep — the deep sleep that occurs at intervals throughout the night — helps your brain process information about your body. During this period, the brain transfers short-term memories about muscle movement to the temporal lobe where they become long-term memories. Therefore, sleep is one of the best things you can do to promote a successful recovery from a head injury. Unfortunately, brain injury often leads to insomnia, which prevents patients from getting the restful sleep they need. This...

Weight Gain After Brain Injury: Causes & Tips for Staying Healthy

Weight changes are quite common after a brain injury. While some people can lose too much weight due to damage in their brain, others might accidentally gain too much weight. You’re about to learn the causes of excessive weight gain after brain injury and what you can do to counter it. Causes of Weight Gain After Brain Injury Weight management is a serious concern in patients with traumatic brain injury. According to one study which assessed data from over 7,000 TBI patients, 23% were classified as obese and 36% were overweight. Researchers have determined that eating disorders may be at the root of this weight gain...

Can Head Injury Cause a Stroke? 5 Ways to Help Prevent Stroke After Brain Injury

Can a head injury cause a stroke? While most people know a head injury increases their risk of dementia, many do not realize its connection to stroke. But new research reveals that TBI can, in fact, lead to a stroke. Today’s article will explain why a head injury can cause a stroke, and how you can reduce your risk. Connection Between Head Injury and Stroke According to several nationwide studies, a single head injury can increase a person’s risk of stroke by almost tenfold. In a 2011 study published in the journal Stroke, researchers examined the records of over 23,000 TBI patients. These patient’s records were...

TBI and Autism: Is There a Link? (Understanding Similarities and Treatment)

Is there a link between TBI and autism? Can a brain injury cause autism? While many symptoms of TBI and autism overlap, there is currently no evidence to suggest that a brain injury causes an increased risk of autism. However, because the two conditions are similar, some of the interventions used to manage autism may also be helpful for TBI patients. Today you will learn more about the similarities and differences between autism and brain injury and how treatments for autism can help TBI patients increase their social functioning. What is Autism? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects how a person...

Diabetes and Brain Injury: Is There a Connection?

What is the connection between diabetes and brain injury? Can brain injury cause diabetes? While brain injury does not usually cause Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, symptoms of diabetes can be worsened after a severe TBI. In addition, brain injury can make treating diabetes much more difficult. Read on to learn more about how diabetes can affect brain injury treatment and vice versa. What is Diabetes? Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose, the primary energy source for the body and brain. There are two forms of diabetes mellitus that a person can develop: Type 1 Diabetes. The pancreas produces little...